Ahmedabad: The Vikram Sarabhai Library located at IIM Ahmedabad will be restored and updgraded to a hub for a technology-driven learning environment with digital learning and collaboration. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, yesterday (23 September 2016) announced its not-for-profit arm, TCS Foundation, has signed an agreement with Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) to restore and reimagine the Vikram Sarabhai Library located at IIMA’s iconic Louis Kahn Plaza into a future-ready knowledge hub for Digital learning and collaboration. The restoration and upgradation of iconic Vikram Sarabhai Library is expected to be completed by 2018.
Tata Group in a statement said that TCS Foundation, engaged in promoting and funding projects and programs under corporate social responsibility, will support this landmark project with funding of Rs20 crore. Vikram Sarabhai Library at IIMA’s Louis Kahn Plaza is a landmark structure that leaves visitors awestruck. Its design and grandeur is almost impossible to miss. The iconic Louis Kahn buildings have witnessed years of academic lives on campus and even withstood the Gujarat earthquake, but have aged so as to need restoration and upgrade on priority. IIMA has initiated a program for the important and painstaking process of restoration and upgrade of these structures.
The reimagined Library will provide a technology-rich learning environment that will include intelligent identification technologies, seamless integration, and discovery of digital content. There will be an emphasis on digital collections, while print collections will retain their importance to the library. Open and flexible spaces will be provided to create an environment of collaboration among students, academics and visitors.
Commenting on the development, Rajesh Gopinathan, chief financial officer, TCS, said, “IIMA plays a pivotal role in providing world-class management education for tomorrow’s leaders and TCS Foundation is proud to help in making this landmark library future ready by introducing leading-edge digital learning technologies and flexible collaboration spaces. Once completed, this library will become a benchmark for knowledge management among academic institutions globally.”
“I am thankful to TCS Foundation for supporting this critical project. The library is the heart of academic endeavours at IIMA and TCS’ contribution will help generations of future leaders and change agents in enterprises and in society. The research environment at IIMA will be significantly strengthened through this contribution, bringing our library on par with some of the best management schools worldwide,” said, Professor Ashish Nanda, Director, IIMA.
